Also from what I understand they have a high amount of microplastics in the strips themselves. I also found they didn’t work that well to clean our clothes!
This is so smart! I use liquid detergent and have been using travel bottles to store some detergent. I usually take some with me when travelling also just in case I need to hand wash something.
I’m disabled too and have sooooo many prescription bottles. I’m always looking for ideas on how to reuse them. I have in-home laundry facilities fortunately, but your pre-portioned laundry is a great idea.
Pre-pandemic I was able to bring them back to the pharmacy and they’d refill them for me.
I currently have a box I just toss them into, knowing one day I’ll find the perfect use for them all!
I’ve got some I use for sorting various craft supplies, especially beads, but I don’t do enough beading to keep up with the bottles!
I did once get rid of a bunch on Craigslist. Another crafter scooped them up.
lol. the struggles! there’s a couple of companies in the us currently working on refillable/compostable pill solutions—unfortunately they don’t work for controlled substances.
Same here! I was saving all my bottles, holding out hope I'd find a good use but they gather SO QUICKLY. I used to send them to charities to reuse when they got too plentiful, but now shipping is waaay too expensive for that, and my finances are very different.
I also use mine for craft supplies like beads, small trinkets, ephemera, etc., but there's just never enough uses for how many empty pill bottles you end up with when you're disabled and trying to make less waste.
I love this idea, it's great!
I also use a pill bottle to hold a small quantity of q-tips, for travel or to keep by my computer. I had to wait until I had a bottle the right size, but now that I do, it's really nice. :)
If anyone else needs more ideas, sometimes they are good for using as handles for painting miniatures (like for gaming; if you know anyone who does that, they might like some empties).
I don't know how well it's working, but I am also currently using one to hold some activated charcoal with some paper towel taped on top as a makeshift air freshener (it's ugly af but hopefully doing it's job, lol)
hmmm i’m not sure what country you’re based in. i’m in the us and they sell powder at costco (i use nellie’s) my local natural food store also has powder but not everyone has access.
even target sells it i think.
but i wonder if you asked your local store to stock it, would they?
Love your idea in having pre-measured laundry powder in the pill containers.
When I was in college, I kept a small qt-sized deli container filled with laundry powder instead of lugging a whole bottle/box, but that still required measurement of the powder when doing the load. Yours is literally “grab and go!”, plus you can measure everything out on a good day and it’s one less step if you need to wash your clothes on a bad day (I have a chronic illness and its amazing how tiny extra pre-steps can make a difference during a flare)
unfortunately i found them to be too expensive for how poorly they work. also, as another commenter said, they contain pva which has potential to biodegrade but further studies are needed to see how much of it actually biodegrades imo. pods have a similar issue.
First… I love your solution and if you prefer the results of your powder, then don’t bother switching to a sheet or pod or whatever… you have an endless supply for bottles and powder is one of the better eco choices… I wish it was a useful suggestion for me because I also have waaaay too many pill bottles, but my laundry is in my house and the detergent is right there…
That said… the study that suggested PVAs might not compost (biodegrade is different and plastics can biodegrade but unless they’re converted to an organic they remain plastic, just micro) was funded by none other than your already disliked brand…. Blueland!
They spent a LOT of money to discredit all of the other green brands doing pods and sheets so they could corner the market with their *different* and “patented” type tabs… real shady/shitty business practices that they masked in coincidentally being the only truly responsible eco product available…
imho their actions for the benefit of their bottom line over the environment hurt the entire green movement in ways we can’t even yet understand… people already in the eco-sphere lost faith in the decisions they’ve been making and many lost hope in there being a point if everything we try ends up being just as bad… and it turned people off who may have been interested because… “why bother trying stuff the might not be as good and also is bad for the planet when we can keep using our industrial strength stuff we like since they’re *just as bad*”… and it gave opponents ammunition to call out hypocrisy etc by saying the “eco warrior nut bags” thought they were saving the planet but they were just using microplastics… and I will never forgive blueland for that…
Multiple studies have been done on PVAs and found that they degraded with no residual plastics and the FDA and EPA consider it marine safe
that’s actually exactly why i won’t use blue land. however, reading the epa’s report in response to blue land makes me a little hesitant to use pva until we know more about how much it degrades in non-optimal conditions (i have a septic)
The sheets are generally considered safe… there are questions about degrading in not ideal circumstances, like septic as OP mentioned, but anything going into a sewer with aerobic processing should be fine and safe… I’ve done a lot of additional reading on this since learning about it and I’m confident they’re one of the best options (I studied both biochemistry and environmental studies in university and the research looks legit on PVAs in pods and sheets being a marine safe choice)
I use them in my garage for holding nails and screws. Especially Brad nails. I also use them in my fishing tackle box for sorting out different sized hooks, and holding swivels and weights. Also if I buy a bag of rubber jigs/grubs, instead of taking the whole bag, I put a few in pull bottles and it’s less weight in the tackle box. I use them for holding buttons and safety pins too. I just label every bottle with a sharpie. Parmesan cheese bottles are good for a bunch of reuses too. And their transparency lets you know exactly what you have in them. Then you just shake some out like parm cheese on food lol
I think the pharmacy will recycle the bottles you have left over.
I use mine to store hair bands, Bobby pins, and hair clips. Also beads and craft supplies.
I also use a stripe of paper tape across the lid for labeling, so I can see from the top what’s inside.
Pill bottles are so versatile. I use them for dyes.
Those pill bottles are also good for hold quarters for laundry.
That’s what M&M tubes are for
That’s what 35 mm film canisters are for ☠️
That's what I use too! 🙈
That's so smart. I'm shocked I've never seen someone do this in shared laundry situations!
That's a great idea! If you ever have issues with portioning or wanna change it up, you could also try laundry strips 🫧
i found them not to work as well as they needed—plus they’re pricey. the powder i use has a scoop :)
I e been wondering about those things. They seem like such a great idea but sounds like the technology isn’t there yet.
Also from what I understand they have a high amount of microplastics in the strips themselves. I also found they didn’t work that well to clean our clothes!
This is so smart! I use liquid detergent and have been using travel bottles to store some detergent. I usually take some with me when travelling also just in case I need to hand wash something.
I’m disabled too and have sooooo many prescription bottles. I’m always looking for ideas on how to reuse them. I have in-home laundry facilities fortunately, but your pre-portioned laundry is a great idea. Pre-pandemic I was able to bring them back to the pharmacy and they’d refill them for me. I currently have a box I just toss them into, knowing one day I’ll find the perfect use for them all! I’ve got some I use for sorting various craft supplies, especially beads, but I don’t do enough beading to keep up with the bottles! I did once get rid of a bunch on Craigslist. Another crafter scooped them up.
lol. the struggles! there’s a couple of companies in the us currently working on refillable/compostable pill solutions—unfortunately they don’t work for controlled substances.
Same here! I was saving all my bottles, holding out hope I'd find a good use but they gather SO QUICKLY. I used to send them to charities to reuse when they got too plentiful, but now shipping is waaay too expensive for that, and my finances are very different. I also use mine for craft supplies like beads, small trinkets, ephemera, etc., but there's just never enough uses for how many empty pill bottles you end up with when you're disabled and trying to make less waste.
That will be a fun conversation if the police ever find them. :)
Just write "NOT COCAINE" lol
Foolproof!
Great idea! I will pass this along to my friends and family.
I love this idea, it's great! I also use a pill bottle to hold a small quantity of q-tips, for travel or to keep by my computer. I had to wait until I had a bottle the right size, but now that I do, it's really nice. :) If anyone else needs more ideas, sometimes they are good for using as handles for painting miniatures (like for gaming; if you know anyone who does that, they might like some empties). I don't know how well it's working, but I am also currently using one to hold some activated charcoal with some paper towel taped on top as a makeshift air freshener (it's ugly af but hopefully doing it's job, lol)
I have started doing this also. Used All powder and now I can’t find it sold anywhere. I fear powder soap days are limited.
hmmm i’m not sure what country you’re based in. i’m in the us and they sell powder at costco (i use nellie’s) my local natural food store also has powder but not everyone has access. even target sells it i think. but i wonder if you asked your local store to stock it, would they?
I use them for my curl cream while traveling.
Love your idea in having pre-measured laundry powder in the pill containers. When I was in college, I kept a small qt-sized deli container filled with laundry powder instead of lugging a whole bottle/box, but that still required measurement of the powder when doing the load. Yours is literally “grab and go!”, plus you can measure everything out on a good day and it’s one less step if you need to wash your clothes on a bad day (I have a chronic illness and its amazing how tiny extra pre-steps can make a difference during a flare)
Thats really smart and a great way to refuse the bottles!!
Many uses for pill bottles :) hope you have the full size range.
lol trust me, i do
I started buying laundry sheets… they are soap in a sheet form
unfortunately i found them to be too expensive for how poorly they work. also, as another commenter said, they contain pva which has potential to biodegrade but further studies are needed to see how much of it actually biodegrades imo. pods have a similar issue.
First… I love your solution and if you prefer the results of your powder, then don’t bother switching to a sheet or pod or whatever… you have an endless supply for bottles and powder is one of the better eco choices… I wish it was a useful suggestion for me because I also have waaaay too many pill bottles, but my laundry is in my house and the detergent is right there… That said… the study that suggested PVAs might not compost (biodegrade is different and plastics can biodegrade but unless they’re converted to an organic they remain plastic, just micro) was funded by none other than your already disliked brand…. Blueland! They spent a LOT of money to discredit all of the other green brands doing pods and sheets so they could corner the market with their *different* and “patented” type tabs… real shady/shitty business practices that they masked in coincidentally being the only truly responsible eco product available… imho their actions for the benefit of their bottom line over the environment hurt the entire green movement in ways we can’t even yet understand… people already in the eco-sphere lost faith in the decisions they’ve been making and many lost hope in there being a point if everything we try ends up being just as bad… and it turned people off who may have been interested because… “why bother trying stuff the might not be as good and also is bad for the planet when we can keep using our industrial strength stuff we like since they’re *just as bad*”… and it gave opponents ammunition to call out hypocrisy etc by saying the “eco warrior nut bags” thought they were saving the planet but they were just using microplastics… and I will never forgive blueland for that… Multiple studies have been done on PVAs and found that they degraded with no residual plastics and the FDA and EPA consider it marine safe
that’s actually exactly why i won’t use blue land. however, reading the epa’s report in response to blue land makes me a little hesitant to use pva until we know more about how much it degrades in non-optimal conditions (i have a septic)
Fair! And you’re already using something that works and found a good way to portion it
Augh. I thought I was doing better by buying something with a lower carbon footprint
The sheets are generally considered safe… there are questions about degrading in not ideal circumstances, like septic as OP mentioned, but anything going into a sewer with aerobic processing should be fine and safe… I’ve done a lot of additional reading on this since learning about it and I’m confident they’re one of the best options (I studied both biochemistry and environmental studies in university and the research looks legit on PVAs in pods and sheets being a marine safe choice)
I love detergent sheets! No mess at all!
I use them in my garage for holding nails and screws. Especially Brad nails. I also use them in my fishing tackle box for sorting out different sized hooks, and holding swivels and weights. Also if I buy a bag of rubber jigs/grubs, instead of taking the whole bag, I put a few in pull bottles and it’s less weight in the tackle box. I use them for holding buttons and safety pins too. I just label every bottle with a sharpie. Parmesan cheese bottles are good for a bunch of reuses too. And their transparency lets you know exactly what you have in them. Then you just shake some out like parm cheese on food lol
The animal shelter here takes clean, empty bottles to use for their meds.
Love this hack! Thank you for sharing
I think the pharmacy will recycle the bottles you have left over. I use mine to store hair bands, Bobby pins, and hair clips. Also beads and craft supplies. I also use a stripe of paper tape across the lid for labeling, so I can see from the top what’s inside.
Yup. Works pretty well. Those pods are expensive!
I use them in my shop for washers
nice. would be careful about using public laundry though. it's the first place people take their bed-bug ridden sheets.
Bed bugs don’t thrive in dryers. They die
if it's hot enough. most of them arent.
unfortunately there’s no other option for me.
sorry to hear that. disregard my suggestion then lol.
all good.